How to Build a Landscape Border Around a House

Measure the width of the landscape border around the house. Mark the outside edge of the border with marking paint.

Dig the grass out of the inside area of the landscape border. Treat the soil according to your location. If you are in a sandy area, such as Florida, and you want to grow plants that need loam, amend the soil by adding compost. Mix the compost into the soil at least 12 inches deep. Let the compost sit for two weeks. Add more compost to the soil and mix the soil well.

Purchase the material you will use for the border. You can use 4- by 4-inch lumber, landscaping blocks (they come in a variety of shapes and sizes) or fencing. Line the outside of the landscape border with your chosen border material.

Plant the landscape border. Keep taller plants in the back, against the wall of the house, and shorter plants toward the outside edge. Alternate plants that have different bloom times, so that you have some type of bloom for as many months throughout the year as possible.

Mulch the entire landscape border with compost or pulverized bark. You can also choose one of the man-made composts made from rubber, but mulch and pulverized bark provide additional nutrients for the plants.